Even My Life Is Yours Chapter 74

“I think I know why people like the Inspector General Excellency.”

Lovely. He had certainly thought so. Although it was an emotion difficult to feel toward another fellow, those who work hard at whatever they do are originally bound to look endearing. Especially for anyone who possessed a temperament like his own—where one must grant help if asked—they would find Yeo Hongyo commendable.

If he had a younger brother, would it feel exactly like this? Of course, because he had a younger sister, Bian, he wasn’t entirely ignorant of the existence of a younger sibling, but if it were a younger brother, it might be a bit different from Bian. Jeonghwan patted Hongyo on the shoulder.

“I am hearing all sorts of strange words. Even if those fellows like me, it would only be gross. At any rate, make sure to follow me diligently in the future as well. Then, the day will come when you will surpass me someday.”

“Pardon?”

At that, Hongyo’s eyes widened. Waving her hands as if it made no sense, the fellow made quite a fuss, asking how that could be. Jeonghwan looked at such a Hongyo and said.

“Why would it make no sense? Of course, you still have a long way to go, so don’t go thinking of challenging me for no reason.”

And then, looking at the fellow who was still making a fuss, he stood up from his seat.

“Let’s go inside. Er, drink alcohol moderately.”

Then, Hongyo, who stood up following Jeonghwan, asked subtly.

“But really, how did the Inspector General happen to become a military official?”

It seemed she was inwardly curious since she hadn’t received an answer earlier. Jeonghwan glanced at such a Hongyo, then looked ahead again.

“Would there be any grand reason? I picked up the sword because there was something to protect. You likely know that my father is the Provincial Governor of Hyeongju. In the first place, our clan, which was the feudal lords of Hyeongju, was born and raised there, so it was decided from birth that I would inherit the next generation. Only then could I protect my one and only younger sibling, as well as the people of Hyeongju. That is all.”

At Jeonghwan’s answer, Hongyo nodded her head. Although things like aristocrats and the imperial family were still difficult, Jeonghwan, at any rate, looked to have not the slightest shortcoming in fulfilling that responsibility.

“I see.”

Jeonghwan, who looked down at Hongyo with a glance, chuckled.

“Why? Will you follow me to Hyeongju as well?”

When Hongyo looked up in surprise at those words, Jeonghwan spoke calmly.

“If you don’t want to go to the Central Army, why not come to Hyeongju. Just in time, it seems my younger sibling has a bit of feelings for you, so if you are alright with it, it would be fine to meet once.”

Then, Hongyo jumped up as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.

“W-What did you say?”

At that reaction, Jeonghwan rather looked at Hongyo as if surprised.

“Hmm, still, my younger sibling doesn’t hear that she’s lacking wherever she goes. It’s truly painful to say this as an older brother, but she’s on the beautiful side.”

Then, Hongyo waved her hands again.

“No. It’s not that I’m talking about such a thing…. You’re taking me to Hyeongju?”

Jeonghwan stared at Hongyo.

“Yes. If only you wish, could I not even give you a position in Hyeongju.”

At first, it was words spoken to tease her, but thinking about it, it was truly fine. Just looking at the disposition and attitude he had observed so far, he would certainly be a great help by his side in the future. Of course, although there was one person in that Hwayeonggyeong who cared suspiciously much whenever it concerned Yeo Gamhwi’s affairs, if a friend wished for it, there was no pretext to hold him back either, was there? Furthermore, if—by some chance—he even ended up marrying Bian, he would become his brother-in-law.

Jeonghwan once again reminded himself anew that his tastes were terribly similar to his younger sister’s. Since they always chose the same thing and quarreled whenever there was a choice, it seemed those eyes weren’t going anywhere, whether back then or now.

“If there isn’t a place you particularly want to go, think about following me after leaving Hwayeonggyeong.”

Jeonghwan spoke thus, then stepped inside first. Even if their tastes were surprisingly similar to Bian’s, unless he was a practitioner of male colors, there would be no reason to quarrel this time. Jeonghwan repeatedly told himself that this emotion with which he felt Hongyo was lovely was merely that he liked Hongyo enough to want to make him his younger brother.

After that, Hongyo, who fell into Yeoryeong’s scheme, had already emptied four wine cups today alone. Because of that, when returning to Hwayeonggyeong, she was completely drunk, moving her steps while Jeonghwan practically supported her.

“If I had known you had this kind of drinking habit, I wouldn’t have told you to meet my younger sibling.”

“Ugh, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Even though her steps were tangled, wondering if her consciousness was there, the way Yeo Hongyo kept saying she was sorry in the midst of it was absurd to him.

‘How can a fellow be this light.’

Jeonghwan could not erase such thoughts even while supporting Hongyo. It wasn’t that weight wasn’t felt at all, but compared to other men, she was boundlessly light. Looking at her when she ate breakfast, it didn’t seem like she had a small appetite. At any rate, it seemed his task for today would end only when he dropped this fellow off at the dormitory.

“Shall I support him? At any rate, since it’s the next room, it would be better for me to take him….”

“It’s fine. More than that, which dormitory is it?”

Yeoryeong, who was watching Jeonghwan grinding his teeth unlike earlier, could not bear it and asked, but Jeonghwan never handed Hongyo over even until they entered Hwayeonggyeong. It was then. Those who were walking stumblingly while leaning on each other in groups of threes and fives suddenly made surprised expressions, saying, “Uh, oh,” and stood stiffly in an instant.

“Lord Chief. How are you here at this hour….”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I was walking a bit. Did you all go out and are entering just now?”

At any rate, since they only had to return by Jin hour tomorrow, returning late wasn’t a violation, but strangely, they shrank back when standing before the Chief of Hwayeonggyeong. A corner to trust at a time like this was, as expected….

“Since it’s their first vacation, it seems everyone was joyful. It is entirely my oversight.”

Jeonghwan, who was a bit late because of supporting Hongyo, appeared in front and spoke. However, because he was still supporting Hongyo, unlike his cool voice, it was an appearance that looked somewhat awkward. At that, Yeoryeong tried to quickly lift Hongyo up, but Gamyoung was faster.

“Since it is the vacation received for the first time, I understand, but please be careful in the future. No matter if you are clad in casual clothes, are you not strictly officials who receive a stipend? Even if you show an appearance of loosened discipline to others, it will only become a blemish.”

Though it seemed calm on the surface, at the voice that was icy to anyone who heard it, the people’s complexions turned dark. However, whether Gamyoung had no intention of pressing further, he merely let out a low sigh.

“Since you must be tired, you all go on in and rest.”

Gamyoung, who was looking at those who were already dead drunk and fuzzily unfocused, turned his gaze toward Jeonghwan. To be precise, it was directed at Yeo Hongyo, who was leaning next to him and practically nestled in his embrace. At this point, it was right for him to turn his steps as well and finish his walk. Because even if he showed signs of knowing Hongyo, there would be absolutely nothing good for Hongyo.

Yet…. Gamyoung clenched his fists while keeping his hands behind his back. What was such a big deal about a fellow being drunk and brought back supported by a colleague. However, his steps, which should have already turned and left long ago, would not lift at all. Ultimately, instead of turning his back, Gamyoung took a step forward.

“And since it seems Yeo Gamhwi needs to sober up, I will stay by his side until he wakes. The Inspector General must also be tired, so go on in and prepare for tomorrow.”

At those words, everyone present looked at him with surprised faces. At the faces floating with question marks, Yeoryeong, unable to watch, asked carefully.

“At any rate, since it’s the next room, wouldn’t it be better for me to take him?”

“Seeing Yeo Gamhwi’s state, it is words spoken because it seems he won’t even be able to find his own room key, so do not worry.”

Then, this time, Jeonghwan intervened between them.

“The wind is still cold….”

“Should the wind not be cold for him to sober up? Once he wakes, I intend to firmly caution him so that such a thing never happens again, so the Inspector General should also go on in.”

And then, as if he would listen no further, he approached Jeonghwan and supported Hongyo while practically pulling her into his embrace just like that. At that sight, those present in that place showed signs of surprise, letting out a sharp breath. However, since they were people who didn’t know the relationship between Hongyo and Gamyoung, firstly, they were merely surprised that the Lord Chief looked after his subordinate to this extent, and secondly, they merely mourned for Yeo Gamhwi, who caught the Lord Chief’s eye in this exact state of all things.

What wretched luck. Whatever it was, on the outside, the sight of a superior who even tenderly looked after a subordinate making a drunken scene was quite moving, but because that superior happened to be the one sitting in the highest position in Hwayeonggyeong, those who didn’t know the circumstances could not help but mourn for Hongyo.

In the midst of that, only Jeonghwan, who knew the relationship between the two, lingered for some unknown reason. And Yeoryeong, who was watching all of that, momentarily discovered a familiar ornament he had seen at some point on the tip of the sword the Hwayeonggyeong Chief wore at his waist.

‘That is surely….’

Yeoryeong turned his head and stared at Hongyo next to him. On the wooden sword worn at her waist, one that differed only in color from the Hwayeonggyeong Chief’s ornament was hanging. Upon seeing that, pieces that he wondered about rapidly fit together.

‘I thought they were acquaintances, but….’

Though it wasn’t certain yet, seeing what the Lord Chief did toward Hongyo, it seemed it wasn’t an ordinary level of treasuring. Hmm…. Yeoryeong, who was watching with interest, suddenly bowed his head along with the voice heard from beside him.

“Then we shall be going inside.”

It was a voice that seemed to bleed with lingering attachment, wondering what on earth was so regrettable. Yeoryeong, keeping his head bowed, glanced at Jeonghwan. What was wrong with this gentleman again. However, the other Gamhwis, as if they had been waiting, hurriedly finished their greetings and vanished into the dormitory helter-skelter.

Gamyoung waited until they completely vanished from vision, then looked down only with his head at Hongyo, whom he supported next to him. Wondering exactly how much alcohol she had drunk, even though the person supporting her had changed, she was merely scowling her face and grumbling as if uncomfortable. At that sight, which was dumbfounding, Gamyoung burst into a hollow laugh.

Even thinking about it himself, what he just did was a reckless act. A heart that treasures a subordinate was natural as a superior, but if anyone else had been like this, he would never have done such a thing as lending his shoulder.

As expected, it must have looked strange.

However, when he discovered Hongyo entering while embraced in another’s arms, it was an unavoidable thing for Gamyoung. Even if he tried not to show his loving heart, he could not block the jealousy that surged up unavoidably. Gamyoung felt as if his throat was growing hot at the warm, faint breath felt against his nape.

“Wake up.”

“Mmm….”

“You must wake up, Hongyo.”

Even while trying to make a stern voice, in the end, he comes to call that name as if coaxing. Gamyoung, who called Hongyo’s name several times, ultimately wrapped Hongyo’s arm, which showed no sign of waking, around his own neck. And then, bending his waist, he carried her on his back just like that. On the day he had gone to give Kyungrak a gift some time ago, he had returned carrying her on his back like this as well.

Gamyoung moved his steps slowly. When he learned during the day that she had gone to meet Mohyun, he had felt it a shame and was hurt that they couldn’t spend their first vacation together, but since he could see her even on this path back, was it a relief nonetheless. He didn’t know until when he would have to hide this heart for it to disappear, but right now, it was fine even like this. However, did they say a person’s greed has no end.

Before long, Gamyoung realized those words bitterly.